Monticello Fire near Lake Berryessa covers almost 6,500 acres

Updated 10:34 pm, Sunday, July 6, 2014

Crews worked on hot spots on the blackened hillside off highway 128. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning to their homes. less

Crews worked on hot spots on the blackened hillside off highway 128. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning to ... more

The fire moved north of Winters during the day and firefighters used an aggressive air attack. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning to their homes. less

The fire moved north of Winters during the day and firefighters used an aggressive air attack. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and ... more

A helicopter flew over the northern flank of the fire. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning to their homes.

A helicopter flew over the northern flank of the fire. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning to their homes.

Pete Dickinson (left) and Jodi Westropp returned to their Golden Bear subdivision home to check on their chickens after evacuating on the fourth of July. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning to their homes. less

Pete Dickinson (left) and Jodi Westropp returned to their Golden Bear subdivision home to check on their chickens after evacuating on the fourth of July. Firefighters made significant gains against the ... more

Firefighters dumped water on the northern flank of the fire near Winters, Calif. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning to their homes. less

Firefighters dumped water on the northern flank of the fire near Winters, Calif. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began ... more

This screenshot of the CAL FIRE California fire map (click through the slideshow to see the interactive map) show the Butts Fire (at left) and the Monticello Fire. As of 7 a.m. on Sunday, July 6, 2014, the Butts Fire, northwest of Lake Berryessa, was at 4,300 acres and 80 percent contained. The Monticello Fire, at the southeast shore of Lake Berryessa, had covered more than 7,000 acres and was 30 percent contained.

This screenshot of the CAL FIRE California fire map (click through the slideshow to see the interactive map) show the Butts Fire (at left) and the Monticello Fire. As of 7 a.m. on Sunday, July 6, 2014, the

Cal Fire staff posted new updates on the Monticello fire for the evacuation center in Winters, Calif. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning to their homes. less

Cal Fire staff posted new updates on the Monticello fire for the evacuation center in Winters, Calif. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and ... more

Jane Moody spent the night at the evacuation center in Winters, Calif. after getting back to her place and saving her labrador. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning to their homes. less

Jane Moody spent the night at the evacuation center in Winters, Calif. after getting back to her place and saving her labrador. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake ... more

Fire licks the mountainside as fire fighters begin to work into the night to contain the Monticello Fire near Lake Berryessa where the Solano, Napa and Yolo county lines converge July 5, 2014 near Winters, Calif. less

Fire licks the mountainside as fire fighters begin to work into the night to contain the Monticello Fire near Lake Berryessa where the Solano, Napa and Yolo county lines converge July 5, 2014 near Winters, ... more

Scott Fields from Folsom fire department sprays water in a contained area while doing mop up on the outskirts of the fire while fighting the Monticello Fire near Lake Berryessa where the Solano, Napa and Yolo county lines converge July 5, 2014 near Winters, Calif. less

Scott Fields from Folsom fire department sprays water in a contained area while doing mop up on the outskirts of the fire while fighting the Monticello Fire near Lake Berryessa where the Solano, Napa and Yolo ... more

Firefighters from the Folsom fire department Captain Ken Cusano, left, and Ben Signor walk down the road doing mop up on the outer skirts of the fire while fighting the Monticello Fire near Lake Berryessa where the Solano, Napa and Yolo county lines converge July 5, 2014 near Winters, Calif. less

Firefighters from the Folsom fire department Captain Ken Cusano, left, and Ben Signor walk down the road doing mop up on the outer skirts of the fire while fighting the Monticello Fire near Lake Berryessa where ... more

A helicopter takes off with a fresh bucket of water from the Putah Creek for air support while fighting the Monticello Fire near Lake Berryessa where the Solano, Napa and Yolo county lines converge July 5, 2014 near Winters, Calif. less

A helicopter takes off with a fresh bucket of water from the Putah Creek for air support while fighting the Monticello Fire near Lake Berryessa where the Solano, Napa and Yolo county lines converge July 5, 2014 ... more

Residents make their way back home after the mandatory evacuation in the Berryessa Estates neighborhood was lifted as firefighters continue the battle against the Butts Fire on Thursday July 3, 2014, in Pope Valley, Calif. less

Residents make their way back home after the mandatory evacuation in the Berryessa Estates neighborhood was lifted as firefighters continue the battle against the Butts Fire on Thursday July 3, 2014, in Pope ... more

Firefighters attacked the northern flank of the fire from the air because of the difficult terrain. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning to their homes. less

Firefighters attacked the northern flank of the fire from the air because of the difficult terrain. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and ... more

A Cal Fire helicopter took off from the Yolo County airport to transport an injured worker on the fire lines. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning to their homes. less

A Cal Fire helicopter took off from the Yolo County airport to transport an injured worker on the fire lines. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, ... more

A helicopter dropping water flew over the northern most flank of the fire. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning to their homes. less

A helicopter dropping water flew over the northern most flank of the fire. Firefighters made significant gains against the Monticello fire near Lake Berryessa Sunday July 6, 2014 and residents began returning ... more

Shifting winds and hot, dry underbrush that hasn't burned for decades is hampering efforts to control the 6,488-acre Monticello Fire southeast of Lake Berryessa in Solano and Yolo counties, fire officials said Sunday.

Forty homes remained threatened by the fire as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection maintained an evacuation order for all homes off Highway 128 between Highway 121 and County Road 87. One firefighter suffered minor injuries Sunday when the bulldozer he used to clear a fire lane overturned.

Only 30 percent of the blaze was contained Sunday in part because California's drought has created the type of dangerous conditions that "you usually don't see until August or September," said Cal Fire spokesman Kevin Lucero.

Plus, Lucero said, thickets of manzanitas and other "fuels we're dealing with there are very dry from the drought." The brush was so thick it appeared that it hadn't burned off for at least 20 years, he said. There was little humidity Sunday, and the temperatures topped 100 degrees in some spots, fire officials said.

At least 1,275 firefighters were battling the blaze Sunday, and more firefighting reinforcements were en route from the Butts Fire in Napa County, where 4,300 acres had burned. Firefighters had 85 percent of that fire contained Sunday, officials said.

Further complicating the challenge for firefighters on the Monticello line was that the wind direction switched several times Sunday and reached gusts of 20 mph on some ridges, Lucero said.

Such wind shifts are causing the fire to behave erratically, often jumping unpredictably, he said.

"When those winds are shifting, we can try to anticipate it," Lucero said. "But sometimes, we can't."

Cal Fire crews worked to cut containment lines to prevent the fire's northern spread. Rugged terrain and limited roads made attacking the flames from the ground difficult, said Cal Fire spokesman Chris Christopherson.

The fire broke out around 9:30 p.m. Friday near the Monticello Dam and moved north, threatening about 40 homes in Golden Bear Estates, said Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant.

Concern over shifting winds

Firefighters battled the blaze as it burned right up to the edge of the neighborhood. Residents were evacuated to a shelter set up in the Yolo County city of Winters.

"We were able to make a stand and protect the homes," Berlant said. "Our concern is that the wind will shift and send the fire back the other direction."

Authorities say they have a firm evacuation order in place, but some residents have managed to get back to their homes to retrieve pets and valuables.

Jane Moody, 62, a resident of Canyon Creek Resort, said she had left her trailer home Friday to drive to Winters to watch fireworks. On her return drive home, she said there were 20-foot flames along Highway 128. The evacuation order had been put in place by then, and she had no way to get back home.

"I got within a mile," she said. "I wasn't concerned about my home. I was concerned about my dog."

She was finally allowed home Sunday and retrieved Jesse, her black Labrador, who was fine. About 50 units in her trailer park had been threatened, but firefighters "did a really great job," Moody said.

Two miles to the east, Pete Dickinson and his wife, Jodi Westropp, were ordered to leave their hillside home in Golden Bear Estates and knew they had to pick up the pace when they saw flames coming over the bluff above them at 2:30 a.m. and heading their way. They said they grabbed their most important possessions, two Nigerian dwarf goats and their dog, and as many other things as they could and put them in the car.

"You either pack it all, or there isn't much to take," said Dickinson, 48.

The fire had been turned away from their neighborhood by Sunday, and they returned late in the morning.

'It's just so dry'

Westropp, 43, said she was thankful her neighborhood was spared but understands it may not be over.

"It's a risk here," she said. "It's just so dry."

Crystal Wertz, 24, of Santa Rosa was camping with her family at the Canyon Creek Resort when the fire forced them to evacuate Friday night. Wertz, her husband and two children, ages 4 and 2, abandoned camp but were back at their site by Sunday morning - complete with supplies they purchased during their evacuation.

"I'm not going to let a fire ruin my weekend," she said Sunday while standing about 30 feet from the charred hillside near where the fire first started.

More wildfires have already hit the state than usual this year. State firefighters have recorded 2,700 incidents between January and July - a 50 percent jump from the 1,800 wildland fires they respond to on average during the same period, according to state fire data.

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